Planting In Dry Weather

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 3, 4 January 1941, Page 7 (Supplement)

Planting In Dry Weather

MANY home gardeners shrink from planting out seedlings in hot, dry weather through fear of heavy mortality. However, there is no necessity for this. Plants put out under such conditions should thrive as well as those planted in the spring rains if a simple technique is followed.

The secret lies in the proper preparation of the bed or border for summer planting. The ground should, if possible, be trenched. In most gardens there can be found heaps of partly-rotted weeds, cabbage leavee, potato peelings and similar roughage. Dig this in well, then rake the surface to a good tilth and give it a thorough, eoaking the day before it is proposed to plant. Water Immediately When the seedlings are planted, water, immediately, but do not puddle the roots, especially if the soil is of a sticky or heavy loam nature. This, by the way, is frequently the cause of mortality in tender seedlings. If the weather is very hot a light mulch, say of graes clippings, would be an advantage.

With moisture held below the roots in the roughage, which should be about six inches below the surface, a dry spell will have little effect.

There are many plants that can not only be planted in midsummer, but will thrive in hot, dry conditions. Here are a few of the better known ones which will do well if planted now, giving a profusion of flowere for the autumn: — Astere, small, fibrous-rooted begonias, calliopsis, phlox JJrummondi, French and African marigolds, zinnias, petunias, celosia, verbena, salvias, gaillardias. Phlox Drummondi is one of the most brilliant and one of the easiest and most satisfactory of plants, whkh can readily be gTown from seed. It will thrive in practically every type of soil if given a sunny position. In a few weeks after planting the plants are a sheet of 'bloom, remaining so until late autumn. They show to beet advantage when grown in masses, beds or borders, and are excellent for cutting. Showy and Free Flowering Calliopeis are beautiful, showy and free flowering plants of the easiest culI ture and do well in any sunny position. They bloom all the summer and are valuable for massing or cutting.

The verbena ia still one of the most popular garden annuals—some types are perennial—and lends itself willingly to many uees. For beds, borders and window boxes it is particularly fine and is frequently u«ed for undergrowth to tall plants Like lilies. The clusters of showy flowers are borne in constant succession and there is a wide choice of colours.

Recent years have produced many improved strains of zinnias, including Tom Thumb, which has compact plants about four inches high and miniature blooms.

Another dwarf is linearis. Among other types are the chrysanthemumftowered and scabiosa-flowered.

Gaillardias are needed in every garden to add that continuous dash of colour throughout the summer, even during extremely hot, dry spells. The oldfashioned type in which yellow predominates has been replaced in popularity by eome of the newer strains, which include fine burgundy and mahogany colours, with large and distinctive blooms.

The filbrous begonia is a rapid, healthy grower and a profuse bloomer with .beautiful foliage and flusters of large waxy pink flowers. It ie used frequently for borders in formaj gardens.